Pellet feeding structure



July 27, 1954 E, AHLSTROM 2,684,783

PELLET FEEDING STRUCTURE Filed June 8, 1951 a! /2 VII 1 b 5? I) gill/[I111]! /6 g 5 9 5? INVENTOR. 5 E 1 Edward E AW/sfmm 4 1 a i ,3. "BY g (I v ATTORNEY Patented July 27, 1954 UNITED ST PATENT OFFICE to Chef-Way, Inc., Kansas City,

ration of Missouri Mo., a corpo- Application June 8, 1951, Serial No. 230,650

4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and has for its primary object the provision of structure capable of eliminating certain inherent problems experienced in conventional structures relative to breakage of the individual items being dispensed and thereby clogging or jamming the apparatus from time to time necessitating repair or servicing.

Certain articles of merchandise such as rela- 't'ively fragile pellets to be dispensed by automatic vending mechanism, tend to cause ifficulties in operation because of breakage of the pellets themselves and while it is desirable to dis- ;pense but a single pellet during each cycle of operation, a half pellet or other fragmentary part of a pellet, will oftentimes cause undesirable jamming.

It is accordingly the most important object of the present invention to provide a pellet dispenser that is capable of dispensing more than one full pellet but less than two pellets during each cycle of operation, there being clearance means provided for receiving up to one and one half pellets but no more without the occurrence of jamming above referred to.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a pellet dispensing mecha- 'nism that includes a pair of side-by-side tubes, one of which is adapted as a storage chamber for superimposed pellets, the other tube having connection with the storage tube by means of an inclined throat of such sire and shape as to receive more than one pellet but less than two pellets during dispensing operations.

Another object hereof is to provide in connection with the dual tube arrangement just above set forth, a reciprocable plunger having a pellet-receiving hole therethrough for transferring the pellets from the storage tube to the discharge tube through the enlarged, interconnecting throat and so arranged as to transfer at least one *full pellet during reciprocation there-of without becoming jammed or shearing the remaining pellets.

Another object hereof is to include in dispensi-ng mechanism as above set forth, a plurality of assemblies of substantially identical character, each having a tubular storage chamber and an outlet tube that is common to the assemblies whereby a plurality of diiiering pellets may be dispensed simultaneously within a confined space.

Additional objects will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompany'ing drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a pellet feeding structure.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof, parts being broken away for clearness.

Fig. 3 is a vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line III--III of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse, cross-sectional view taken on irregular line IV-IV of Fig. 2, and shifted 90 degrees.

A plurality of superimposed plates it, I 2, I4 and it are held in spaced-apart relationship by spacers I8, 20 and 22 respectively, presenting three spaces for receiving parts of the mechanisms about to be described. Such mechanisms have a common vertical outlet tube 24 that interconnects the four plates Ill, l2, i l and E6 in the manner illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawing. Likewise, there is provided three inlet or articlestorage tubes 26, 28 and 30 which may be of diffaring diameters if desired in the manner illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.

The tube 25 passes through the plates Ill, l2

and M and registers at its lowermost end with the space between plates I2 and It as most clearly illustrated by Fig. 3 01 the drawing, and, the tube 30 passes through the plate It and registers at its lowermost end with the space between plates l0 and I2.

Since the assemblies for dispensing pellets 32 from the three tubes 2%, 28 and 3%? respectively, are identical, only one will be described. There is provided a pair of spaced-apart, parallel, horizontal guide plates is for receiving an elongated, L-shapedplunger 35 for reciprocation on a horizontal axis. Each plunger 3t has an elongated slot '33 therein for receiving a guide pin all carried by the proximal overlying plate i It or is as the case may be. Each plunger 3& has a pellet-receiving hole 42 formed therethrcugh ad jacent its innermost end and a scrni oval cavity 65 in its uppermost face next adjacent the hole 52. A depending flange 46 on that end of plunger 36 opposite to hole 42 receives rod 48 forming a part of a solenoid 50 that is secured directly to the lowermost face of the plate 52-55-45 that underlies the plunger 36.

Each rod 48 has a spring 52 coiled thereabout for yieldably holding the plunger 36 in the position illustrated by Fig. 3 of the drawing and it is clear that upon energization of solenoid 5%, rod ts will be retracted against the action or" spring 52 to force the plunger 35 to the dotted line position shown by Fig. 3.

It is now clear that there are three solenoids 55, three plungers .36 and the associated parts arranged in ofi-set relationship and at differing heights. Each tube 2628-30 respectively, and the space within which the corresponding plungers 36 reciprocate, are connected with the vertical outlet tube 24- by an inclined throat 54 in the manner shown by Fig. 3 of the drawing. While the inside diameters of tubes 25, 26, 28 and 39 are all substantially the same as. the diameter of the pellet 32 to be dispensed, the diameter of throat 54 is greater than the diameter of a single pellet 32 but less than the combined diameters of a pair of such pellets 32. It is to be preferred that throat be capable of accommodating approximately one and one-half pellets but no more.

In operation therefore, when the plungers 36 are in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 3, the hole 42 is adapted to receive a single pellet 32a from the stack of pellets .52 within the corresponding tube 28 or 39 because of the direct registering relationship between hole 52 and the lowermost end of the overlying inlet or storage tube. Upon energization of the corresponding solenoid 59, plunger 35 will be moved to a position registering directly with the outlet tube 26, transferring the single pellet 32a to the tube 2%. If the pellet 32 next above the pellet being dispensed is of full size or greater than one-half pellet, it will strike the walls of the throat ail and be restrained against discharge into the outlet tube 2t. If, however, a broken pellet 321) that is onehalf the size of pellet 32 or less, directly overlies the pellet 3212, such broken pellet 3213 will be moved through the throat 53 and be discharged into the tube 2% with the pellet in hole t2. If for any reason, pellets 32a and 3213 do not discharge simultaneously into the outlet tube 2 5, then on the next operation the broken pellet 9222 will be within the hole 42 and a full pellet 32 will be in overlying relationship thereto. Consequently, upon the next operation of plunger 36, the broken pellet 321) will be first discharged and the full sized pellet 32 thereabove will gravitate simultaneousl in the tube 25.

As above indicated, the three discharge assemblies that include plungers 36, are at differing levels and therefore, the throats 5d are spaced along outlet tube 2d to the end that all three solenoids is may be energized at the same time and three differing types of pellets 32 emptied into the tube 2d at the same time.

This last mentioned feature is extremely advantageous not only from the standpoint of conserving space in the cabinet of a vending machine but has certain advantages when pellets 32 are of the type used to produce a beverage. In this respect it is contemplated that the pellets 32 be crushed and admixed with hot water or other liquid in a cup and it is for this reason that all of the pellets making up the ingredients or" the drink be fed to the crusher simultaneously for admixing during the crushing action. By virtue of the provision of the semi-oval cavity at in the plungers 35, the pellets 32 will not be sheared or otherwise damaged during reciprocation or" plungers 35.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing, no sharp edge is presented adjacent the cavity id and the hole l2, so that, upon reciprocation of the plunger 36, the next pellet 82 will be received by the cavity id and gradually forced upwardly separating the same from the pellet 32a until it rides upon the uppermost ilat face of plunger 38. Likewise, on return movement of plunger 36 to the full-line position of Fig. 3 of the drawing, the next pellet 32 to be fed to the hole 32 will gradually slide into the hole S2 until the same comes to rest on the underlying plate l2, i l or it as the case may be.

While three vending assemblies have been illustrated, all having an inlet tube and all provided with a common outlet tube 2 it is obvious that a larger number of such assemblies could be provided, all in stacked relationship and offset while utilizing a single outlet tube 2 3 in the same manner as herein illustrated.

Figure a of the drawing shows the way in which the guide plates 3% presenting an elongated polygonal space therebetween, register directly with the outlet tube 2d, and this figure also shows the downwardly inclined, lowermost face of the throat 5 that extends from the tube 24 to the proximal end of plunger 36 when the latter is retracted.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. lin article dispensing mechanism, a pair of side-by-side, vertical tubes; structure forming an elongated, horizontal passage extending radially outwardly from one of said tubes and communicating with the other tube at the lowermost end of the latter; structure forming a throat joining the tubes and the passage, said throat being inclined downwardly from the passage and said other tube toward said one tube; and movable means in the passage for transferring articles 'roin the other tube through the throat to the one tube, the inside diameters of the tubes being substantially the same as the diameter of said articles, and the inside diameter of said throat being greater than the diameter of one of said articles, but less than the combined diameters of two articles.

2. in article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a reciprocable plunger having an article-receiving hole therethrough, and a semi-oval groove therein adjacent said hole, disposed to separate articles stacked in the chamber thereabove, during reciprocation oi the plunger, without shearing.

3. In article dispensing mechanism, a pair of side-by-side, vertical tubes; structure forming an elongated, horizontal passage extending radially outwardly from one of said tubes communi eating with the other tube at the lowermost end of the latter; structure forming a threat joining the tubes and the passage, said throat being inclined downwardly fronrthe passage and said other tube toward said one tube; and movable means in the passage for transferring articles from the other tube through the throat to the one tube, said means including a reciprocable plunger having an article-receiving hole there through and a semi-oval groove therein adjacent said hole, disposed to separate articles stacked in the chamber thereabove, during reciprocation of the plunger, without shearing.

4. In article dispensing mechanism as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means includes a reciprocable plunger having a flange depending therefrom at one end or the passage, wherein is provided a prime mover secured to said structure and having a reciprocable rod attached to the flange for actuating the plunger.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date,

1,196,105 Groom Aug. 29, 1916 2,399,199 Brandon Apr. 30, 1946 

